ARENA on government's trade-off of services

The
release today of the government's initial offer to trade-off
more of New Zealand’s services in the GATS negotiations at
the World Trade Organisation was described as "a half-step
forward and a huge leap back" by Professor Jane Kelsey on
behalf of the Action, Research and Education Network of
Aotearoa (ARENA).

Kelsey believes the grip of free trade
evangelists like Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton has
been weakened, but they still hold the upper hand.

She
says that new commitments have been offered, without any
public assessment of their implications. The inclusion of
postal and courier services is of particular concern.

The
veil of secrecy was partly lifted – "but only after the
document was tabled in Geneva. New Zealanders would still
be left in the dark had there not been widespread public
condemnation of the process and consequences of the GATS
agreement.

“Presumably we won’t know what’s in the next
stage of deals and trade-offs until those are signed off
too. This is hardly a victory for democracy."

Kelsey says
the Cabinet ignored widespread calls for a moratorium on the
negotiations and a public debate about what is at stake.

“In fact,” says Kelsey, “the Labour government has
ignored even the limited demands that it rescind the 1994
commitments made by National. These already sacrifice New
Zealand control over our national education and broadcasting
systems and are already interfering with the implementation
of government policies.”

“The key question has still not
been addressed: should our national services be controlled
by democratically elected governments in the interests of
New Zealanders or by transnational corporations through the
World Trade Organisation?

"Cabinet is hiding behind sham
consultations conducted by reluctant trade officials which
impressed no one, including the Prime Minister.”

Kelsey
says the Government is trying to allay public concern by
saying it will protect ‘public health, public education and
social welfare services’. This wording suggests it may apply
only to services provided through public institutions.

Given the extensive privatization of public services,
Kelsey insists that it is our national systems of health,
education and social welfare services that need
protecting.

“Education in private institutions is already
committed. This wording implies the government might do the
same for private health care.

“And because these
assurances won’t be written into New Zealand’s actual
schedule of commitments, they have no legal standing. So
much for Labour's so-called ‘protection’.”

Kelsey objects
that there is no attempt to address well-founded concerns
about local government and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The
government simply reasserts the status quo.

She points out
there is also no promise to protect environmental services,
which the Europeans are desperate to have included. These
may end up on the table when the negotiations really get
tough, especially if the Europeans demand more trade-offs
just to keep talking about agriculture.

“There are real
fears that the European Union will say ‘jump’ and Sutton
will simply ask ‘how
high?’”

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